She will appear before Coventry Magistrates Court next month accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a cat and not providing an animal with a suitable environment. Both offences, which come under the Animal Welfare Act, can carry a prison sentence and a lifetime ban from keeping animals.

hey, i say string her up. but 2 counts? “…causing unnecessary suffering to a cat and of not providing the animal with a suitable environment.” that seems unnecessary. one count of being a douche should cover it very nicely.

ranomatic, The RSPCA is a private organisation and has no more powers to charge someone than I do. They are pursuing a private prosecution in the same way that any member of the public is able to do so.

They call it a wheelie bin, in Iowa it was called a yardy cart. Also a fantastic name, especially when the local news was doing stories about how many people were being injured in yardy cart accidents. Either way it’s no place for a cat.

Proper punishment: Put her in a dumpster (or whatever you want to call it), and once a day, throw in some random garbage, in which she may, or may not, find something to eat. Hopefully in a different corner than the one she chose to relieve herself. But because I’m humanitarian, once a week, dump the bin contents, dispose of everything that isn’t her, throw her in an empty one, and start over. Two months ought to be enough to make the point.

If she re-offends, throw her back in the dumpster, lock it, and go on with your life.

Risk of being pedantic, it’s not a felony. Not only does the UK no longer use the term felony/misdemeanor which originated in English common law, it’s not split into indictable and summary offences. The very fact that it’s in a Magistrate Court tell you that it’s a summary offence, one that can be resolved without the need for a judge, three magistrates acting instead. An indictable offence, such as GBH, murder, arson, rape, will bump it straight up to the crown court without need of a magistrates, as it requires a judge.

A magistrate court can refer a case to the Crown Court for sentancing, and is required to do so where a sentance may be longer than six months, or if the defendant pleads not guilty and requires a trial by jury.

My (albeit limited) legal opinion says that there’s no way this lady is going to jail. Community service and a fine.

Just curious, but can someone explain how one cat being dropped into one garbage bin once comes to TWO counts of animal cruelty? I’ve seen this before in other cases and would love to know just how prosecutors go about counting.

Also, since i am a punishment should fit the crime type of guy- drop her in a dumpster for a few days. maybe include food. Don’t let her know how many days, either. Should be sufficient.

Nobody is. Where do you get the idea that she wouldn’t be much, much more hated and penalized if she had thrown away a baby? I don’t know where your bizzare desire to hurt cats comes from, but it’s making you imagine some strange things.